New version Country Note Antibiotic free feed

24 March 2016

In this newsletter we will discuss a change in the Country Note antibiotic free feed, but also the GMP+ FSA requirements for the use of antibiotics in feed. We have heard that there sometimes is some confusion between the specific requirements of the Country Note Antibiotic free feed and the general GMP+ FSA requirements for the responsible processing of antibiotics.

Change in the Country Note GMP+ BCN-NL1 Antibiotics-free feed

To date, products limits were included in the Country Note Antibiotics-free feed. These product limits were linked to the detection limits of the analysis method LC-MSMS that is required in the standard. This product limits sometimes led to the assumption that certain levels of antibiotics are permitted according to the Country Note Antibiotics-free feed. OF course, this is not how the limits in this standard are intended and this has been adjusted in the new version of the Country Note GMP+ BCN-NL1 Antibiotics-free feed.

As of today, the list with antibiotics in the annex is only intended as reference: what antibiotics must be analyzed at the least in the context of the Country Note Antibiotics-free feed. In the assessment of the analysis results, the limit is that no antibiotics can be detected.

Please note: In practice this means that the requirements are not being changed, but the requirement (‘antibiotics free’) is clarified, so that there can be no ambiguities about how antibiotic free feed is defined

The new version of the GMP+ BCN-NL1 Antibiotics-free feed is available here.

GMP+ FSA requirements for the use of antibiotics

By providing a better description of what antibiotics free means in the Country Note (‘no antibiotics are to be detected’), we also hope to resolve any confusion about the alleged relationship between the generic GMP+ FSA requirements for the use of antibiotics and the specific requirements from the Country Note Antibiotics-free feed.

The list with product limits from the Country Note was wrongfully also used for the GMP+ FSA requirements for the use of antibiotics and people were under the assumption that these limits also apply to other feed.

Within the requirements of GMP+ FSA certification it is permitted to produce medicated feed with antibiotics, but only under the applicable legal requirements (in the EU only with a veterinary prescription). For the use of antibiotics in feed (other than the Country Note Antibiotic free feed) requirements are included in the standards, but in addition, the feed safety limits and requirements as described in GMP+ BA2 Controlling residues apply. They contain the legally defined residue limits for the EU that apply to all GMP+ participants.

More information about the use of antibiotics in feed is available in the FSP Factsheet Antibiotics.

The production of animal feed is a shared responsibility of the entire feed chain. Companies can display their safe, and responsible practice with GMP+ certification. Participating companies can access GMP+ International courses, numerous sources of information and tools.